Grass snakes hatched yet?

[JoyceBeck]

This spring I found two clutches of grass snake eggs in one of my compost bins - maybe 20 eggs in each. I gently covered them up again and haven't disturbed them since.

I'd really like to empty the compost out now, but I don't want to endanger them - how do I find out if grass snake eggs are generally hatched in our area yet - South Northamptonshire?

I'm going to make a little signpost for next year for Mrs Grass Snake to put out "Eggs laid, please do not disturb"!

[faz]

they should have hatched by now as they hibernate from october so the young will need to feed and put on weight eggs
are laid in compost or manure heaps,
where the rotting vegetation creates
warm conditions. Development of the
leathery white eggs depends on the
temperature, but hatching usually
occurs 6-8 weeks after egg-laying. The
hatchling snakes escape from the eggs
by chipping at the shell with an egg
tooth

PS sorry welcome to WAB

[operanut1972]

Hi JoyceBeck,

Welcome to the site!

[Mark_b]

I would advise carefully looking through the compost as sometimes this years grass snakes will choose to hibernate in it, if you do this now it will give them time to find somewhere else.

[Matt Smith]

I have been doing a reptile translocation and have been finding very small Grassies - presumeably this years young - for a couple of weeks now.

[JoyceBeck]

Thank you all for that.

I saw the eggs in early May, so maybe they were hatched as early as July.

Last year I disturbed two grass snakes in the compost, but no eggs, in April. So if I make sure I empty my compost no later than mid April, then leave it in peace until September, I should be able to help out the local population.

I suspect my compost bins are good nest sites because they are big, lidded, insulated, in a quiet shady corner of the garden next to a field, and convenient for next door's pond.

[Kayleigh]

Where abouts in Northants are you..
I am in Towcester and never see grass snakes your lucky to have them breed in your garden I would leave them to the compost.

Welcome to WAB..

[JoyceBeck]

We're south of Northampton, quite close to Salcey Forest. There are a couple of (wild) ponds not far away, which may attract them. How far do they travel, I wonder?

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by JoyceBeck

We're south of Northampton, quite close to Salcey Forest. There are a couple of (wild) ponds not far away, which may attract them. How far do they travel, I wonder?

OK..not sure how far they travel.